Jack Black Joins Dwayne Johnson in ‘Jumanji’ Remake

Jack Black is joining Dwayne Johnson in Sony’s remake of Jumanji, Johnson announced Wednesday on Instagram.

“In our reimagining of the story of JUMANJI, Jack brings that rare balance of cool with funny and edge with childlike joy,” wrote Johnson. He also solidified Kevin Hart’s involvement, which was previously in question due to scheduling, saying that the “Jumanji Breakfast Club” is coming together.

 

Guess who’s ready to enter into the world of #JUMANJI… JACK (mf’n) BLACK. World loves Jack Black and so do I. Been a big fan of his work over the years. A brilliant actor who I’m confident will turn in a performance of a lifetime for JUMANJI. (when we reveal his character you’ll understand;). In our reimagining of the story of JUMANJI, Jack brings that rare balance of cool with funny and edge with childlike joy. The “Jumanji Breakfast Club” is coming together.. myself, Jack (mf’n) Black and Kevin Hart. Two big roles left. One bad ass girl. One semi-sorta bad ass dude. Who will they be… this is gonna be fun. #JUMANJI #WelcomesJackBlack #JustPressStart #TheGameThatPlaysYou

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on May 11, 2016 at 2:36pm PDT

Jake Kasdan is directing and Matt Tolmach is producing the remake of Sony’s 1995 movie starring Robin Williams. That pic, in turn, adapted the children’s book by Chris van Allsburg.

The book told of a boy and a girl who find a jungle-adventure board game and bring it home. When they begin to play, it magically transforms their house into a wild jungle, unleashing a lion, monkeys, a volcano and a whole mess of trouble.

“In the original movie there were three big roles,” Johnson previously wrote on Instagram on May 9. “In our new story there’s now FIVE. Been so damn cool to see all my actor buddies push their projects aside so hopefully they can come play in our world.”

Johnson also said the new movie will have Williams’ film very much on its mind: “You have my word, we will honor his name and the character of ‘Alan Parrish’ will stand alone and be forever immortalized in the world of JUMANJI in an earnest and cool way. I have an idea of what to do and I think his family will be proud.”

Black starred in Sony’s Goosebumps movie, released last year, and more recently reprised the role of Po in the animated Kung Fu Panda 3.

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And the #JUMANJI magic begins. Excellent meeting with our director Jake Kasdan, producer Matt Tolmach, and our @SevenBucksProd team to work on our new re-imagining of this amazing story. I felt like in order to craft something cool we should begin where it all started. Award winning writer Chris Van Allsburg’s source material of JUMANJI. Chris also wrote THE POLAR EXPRESS (later adapted by Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks) and has a very special & magical way of storytelling. I’m feelin’ good and confident stepping into these shoes as a producer as well as actor to bring you something great that you and your entire fam can enjoy. An important thing that I want to be honest and bring up is Robin Williams. The love and respect I have for this man is boundless. You have my word, we will honor his name and the character of “Alan Parrish” will stand alone and be forever immortalized in the world of JUMANJI in an earnest and cool way. I have an idea of what to do and I think his family will be proud. I also think Robin is somewhere lookin’ down and laughing, remembering the first time we met backstage and I (for the first time ever) was a star struck bumbling idiot that couldn’t even get my words out. Idiot. He literally calmed me down w/ that smile and laugh. But that’s for another fun story down the road. We got a great team assembled already over at our home base of SONY and now we build from here. Here’s another fun part… in the original movie there were three big roles. In our new story there’s now FIVE. Been so damn cool to see all my actor buddies push their projects aside so hopefully they can come play in our world. Should have cool casting announcements this week. Will keep you posted. #TheMagicBegins #JustPressStart #JUMANJI

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on May 9, 2016 at 10:23am PDT